A few days ago, Twice’s Chaeyoung pre-released the first taste of her debut solo album with Avocado. Depending on your taste, that track either felt refreshingly new for K-pop or like a bit of a snooze. I fall in the latter category, though I did respect its unique tone. Pre-releases are afforded some leeway when it comes to being quirky or loosey-goosey, but it’s the title track’s job to pull everything together.
Shoot (Firecracker) is a jauntier affair, though much of the track is covered in the same gauzy nonchalance that has become a fifth gen girl group staple. It’s interesting because Chaeyoung hails from a girl group of a very different era with its own tropes and expectations and seems to be pushing back on them here. I’ve always believed solo careers should be their own thing and have a reason to exist outside of the main group and Shoot successfully carves its own niche. While I wish the song hit harder, that’s a critique I could level at the vast majority of K-pop in this day and age.
Instead, I’ll praise Shoot‘s catchy chorus, which carries the perfect level of breezy thrill. The song’s verses are a bit too featherweight for my liking, but the hook has a satisfying efficiency that gets a lot of bang from its limited buck. Rhythm guitar plays a large role in this success, adding a disco groove to the buoyant arrangement. Chaeyoung’s soft vocal is well-suited to this approach, stylish and aloof but underpinned by enough warmth to keep Shoot anchored to the ground. I don’t see this acting as a playlist standout, but its vibes are happy enough to warrant a sense of comforting longevity.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
good song
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I felt a great promise from that teaser Avocado, kind of like she would go the way of Lee Chaeyon. I really want to like this track, as you say she goes a different direction than Twice does, but if we compare to Chaeyon’s singles they are both interesting and good pop songs while “Shoot” just is kind of more of a vibe. I actually think the main problems for Chaeyoung could be that she sings in english, I would love to hear this song in korean. Still, I do hope it will grow on me, it is an interesting style for a kpop singer.
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And, I forgot, that initial synth is just sooo sweet!
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Oh, I really liked this one. It’s a straight 8 though, I don’t think I can see myself frequently returning to it except to put the album on as background music. And speaking of that, the album having songs that are just 1 minute long feels absurd and surreal. Why. What was the reason. I was excited for Chaeyoung/Kai. And it’s… 1 minute 49 seconds. Who do I throttle.
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I would like to imagine that it is the comeback of albums being not only single tracks but a whole, where such short tracks are for the ambience and even “storytelling”. This kind of sound would fit that. But probably not, I suppose.
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Much, much better than Avocado. Well, the whole album is great and in album context even Avocado works. I’m still surprised by the musical direction, as I expected something more rap, more Lisa-coded. As people previously pointed out, that isn’t her style at all. But that makes me think… On the whole album she doesn’t rap at all, not a single time (some guests rap a bit) and she has a very special singing voice that wasn’t really utilised in Twice. Makes me think that maybe she doesn’t even want to be the rapper? Was she forced by the company?
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Interesting that people thought avocado was boring and like this one. This to me stood out as the most boring and predictable hooks in the album, but since I like this concept I’m glad many here are into it!
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Y’all can have this one because I think its a lazy snoozer.
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This is a song that literally anyone could have released.
Not bad by any means, just completely void of personality.
I quite like it though.
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It reminds me the same route that V took with Layover. But her album is more diverse. Ribbon is THE b-side!
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